In 1985 the IRFU proposed an All-Ireland League, but promised to implement it only if there was a strong majority of clubs in favour. The vote of senior clubs was 23 for and 23 against, with two abstentions, and the proposal was withdrawn.[1] But following New Zealand's victory in the inaugural Rugby World Cup, England and Wales moved to emulate their competitive national league structure, and the idea of a national league for Ireland was revived.[2]
In June 1988 the IRFU announced plans for an All-Ireland League, to begin in the 1990-91 season. There would be two divisions. Division 1 would have nine teams, three from Leinster, three from Ulster and three from Munster, and Division 2 would have ten teams, three from Leinster, three from Ulster, two from Munster and two from Connacht. Teams would qualify based on their performances in the provincial senior leagues over the previous three seasons, and would play eight or nine games alongside their provincial league seasons, in place of interprovincial friendlies. Two teams would be promoted from Division 2 to Division 1, and two teams from Division 1 would be relegated to Division 2.[3] There would also be promotion and relegation between Division 2 and the provincial leagues.[4]
For the first three seasons, there were 19 teams in two divisions, 9 in Division 1, 10 in division 2. The bottom two teams in Division 1 were related, replaced by the top two teams in division 2. The bottom three teams in Division 2 were related, replaced by three teams decided by playoffs.
In 1993-94 the league expanded to 46 teams in four divisions - 11 in Divisions 1, 2 and 4, and 13 in Division 3. Two teams were relegated from Divisions 1 and 2, and three from Division 3. Division 4 club Westport withdrew from the league at the end of the season, leaving 45 teams in four divisions for 1994-95, with Division 3 reduced to 12 teams. Two teams were relegated from Divisions 1, 2 and 3, and two promoted from Divisions 2, 3 and 4, and Division 4 club University College Galway withdrew from the league, so the league was reduced to 44 teams in 1995-95, with division 4 reduced to 10 teams.
In 1996-97 the league expanded.
1997-98
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 26 April 1998: Shannon 15-9 Garryowen
Semi-finals
edit- 18 April 1998: Shannon 28-21 St Mary's College
- 19 April 1998: Garryowen 24-10 Young Munster
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Division 4edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Banbridge
- Midleton
1998-99
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 1 May 1999: Cork Constitution 14-10 Garryowen
Semi-finals
edit- 24 April 1999: Garryowen 19-17 St Mary's College
- 24 April 1999: Cork Constitution 32-20 Buccaneers
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3Aedit
Division 3Bedit
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Division 4edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Barnhall
- Thomond
Changes for next season
editNorth merged with Collegians to form Belfast Harlequins.
1999-2000
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 20 May 2000: St Mary's College 25-22 Lansdowne
Semi-finals
edit- 13 May 2000: St Mary's 32-22 Ballymena
- 14 May 2000 Terenure 13-29 Lansdowne
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit |
Division 4edit
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2000-01
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 26 May 2001: Cork Constitution 12-46 Dungannon
Semi-finals
edit- 19 May 2001: Cork Constitution 18-10 Young Munster
- 19 May 2001: Galwegians 29-31 Dungannon
2001-02
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 4 May 2002: Cork Constitution 17-21 Shannon
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Highfield
- Queen's University
2002-03
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 10 May 2003: Clontarf 18-28 Ballymena
Semi-finals
edit- 3 May 2003: Clontarf 20-6 Buccaneers
- 3 May 2003 Lansdowne 3-10 Ballymena
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Ards
2003-04
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 8 May 2004: Cork Constitution 16-22 Shannon
Semi-finals
edit- 1 May 2004: Cork Constitution 20-6 Buccaneers
- 1 May 2004: Shannon 27-13 Belfast Harlequins
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Bruff
2004-05
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 7 May 2005: Shannon 25-20 Belfast Harlequins
Semi-finals
edit- 30 April 2005: Shannon 21-11 Clontarf
- 30 April 2005: Garryowen 8-15 Belfast Harlequins
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Nenagh Ormond
2005-06
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 13 May 2006: Clontarf 3-30 Shannon
Semi-finals
edit- 6 May 2006: Garryowen 20-21 Shannon
- 6 May 2006: Clontarf 26-6 Cork Constitution
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Rainey Old Boys
2006-07
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 5 May 2007: Cork Constitution 15-16 Garryowen
Semi-finals
edit- 28 April 2007: Cork Constitution 21-18 UL Bohemians
- 28 April 2007: Clontarf 15-28 Garryowen
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Naas
2007-08
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 11 May 2008: Cork Constitution 18-8 Garryowen
Semi-finals
edit- 3 May 2008: Cork Constitution 17-3 Clontarf
- 3 May 2008: Shannon 6-31 Garryowen
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Portadown
2008-09
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 9 May 2009: Shannon 19-19 Clontarf (Shannon win on first try scored)
Semi-finals
edit- 25 April: Cork Constitution: 6-25 Clontarf
- 25 April: Shannon 16-12 Garryowen
Division 1edit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Navan
2009-10
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 8 May 2010: Cork Constitution 17-10 St Mary's College
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- City of Derry
- Seapoint
2010-11
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 1 May 2011: Old Belvedere 20-17 Cork Constitution
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2edit
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Division 3edit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Cashel
- City of Armagh
- Boyne
- Sligo
2011-12
edit
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Skerries
2012-13
edit
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Tullamore
- Richmond
2013-14
edit
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Wanderers
- Kanturk
2014-15
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 9 May 2015: Lansdowne 18-17 Clontarf
Semi-finals
edit- 25 April 2015: Lansdowne 23-19 Young Munster
- 25 April 2015: Terenure College 0-9 Clontarf
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Dundalk
2015-16
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 8 May 2015: Clontarf 28-25 Cork Constitution
Semi-finals
edit- 23 April 2016: Clontarf 24-10 UCD
- 23 April 2016: Cork Constitution 22-16 Young Munster
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Bangor
2016-17
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 6 May 2017: Clontarf 21-25 Cork Constitution
Semi-final
edit- 23 April 2017: Lansdowne 16-19 Cork Constitution
- 23 April 2017: Clontarf 37-29 Young Munster
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Omagh Academicals
- Malahide
2017-18
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 6 May 2018: Lansdowne 19-17 Cork Constitution
Semi-finals
edit- 28 April 2018: Lansdowne 36-19 Garryowen
- 28 April 2018: Terenure College 15-22 Cork Constitution
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Ballina
2018-19
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 5 May 2019: Cork Constitution 28-13 Clontarf
Semi-finals
edit- 27 April 2019: Clontarf 23-15 Lansdowne
- 28 April 2019: Cork Constitution 23-3 Dublin University
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Enniscorthy
- Clonmel
2019-20
editSeason incomplete - Covid-19. No promotion or relegation.
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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2020-21
editNot played - Covid 19
2021-22
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 1 May 2022: Clontarf 29-23 Terenure College
Semi-finals
edit- 23 April 2022: Clontarf 29-13 Cork Constitution
- 23 April 2022: Terenure College 20-18 Lansdowne
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Promoted for next season
edit- Instonians
2022-23
editPlayoffs
editFinal
edit- 7 May 2023: Terenure College 50-24 Clontarf
Semi-finals
edit- 22 April 2023: Clontarf 13-12 Young Munster
- 22 April 2023: Terenure College 30-12 Cork Constitution
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Promoted next season
edit- Clogher Valley
2023-24
editPlayoffs
editSemi-finals
edit- 20 April 2024: Terenure College 31-28 Lansdowne
- 20 April 2024: Cork Constitition 40-34 Clontarf
Division 1Aedit
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Division 1Bedit
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Division 2Aedit
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Division 2Bedit
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Division 2Cedit
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Division 1A/1B playoffs
editSemi-finals
edit- 20 April 2024: Shannon 8-46 Old Belvedere
- 20 April 2024: Old Wesley 21-32 Garryowen
Final
edit- Old Belvedere v Garryowen
Division 1B/2A playoffs
editSemi-finals
edit- 20 April 2024: Queen's University 59-17 Banbridge
- 20 April 2024: Cashel 23-25 MU Barnhall
Final
edit- Queen's University v MU Barnhall
Division 2A/2B playoffs
editSemi-finals
edit- 20 April 2024: UL Bohemian 13 Sligo
- 20 April 2024: Galway Corithians 35-21 Wanderers
Final
edit- UL Bohemian v Galway Corinthians
Division 2B/2C playoffs
editSemi-final
edit- 20 April 2024: Dolphin 42-20 Enniscorthy
- 20 April 2024: Galwegians 40-17 Bruff
Final
edit- Dolphin v Galwegians
Division 2C/junior leagues playoffs
editFinal
edit- 27 April 2024: Bangor v Monkstown
Promoted for next season
edit- Ballyclare
References
edit- ^ David Walsh, "Yes to the World Cup... but the All Ireland League is rejected", Sunday Press, 27 October 1985
- ^ Neil McKay, "All-Ireland move coming", News Letter, 8 October 1987
- ^ Jim Stokes, "Irish rugby to get new look in 1990", Belfast Telegraph, 10 June 1988
- ^ Neil McKay, "IRFU set up united league", News Letter, 10 June 1988